We appreciate the willingness of Washington County's General Assembly delegation to yield a bit on their "no gambling legislation in 1997" stand. Now that they're willing to move, they need to do the most important one first, and chop out the "sunset clause" that, unless eliminated, will kill the tip-jar gaming law in 1999. We've heard one argument that the delegation still has two more sessions to eliminate this clause, and another that says the sunset clause should stay in, to force a periodic review of this issue.

Gambling bill aims to repeal 'sunset' provision By GUY FLETCHER Staff Writer ANNAPOLIS - Washington County's delegation in the Maryland General Assembly agreed Wednesday to sponsor legislation that would remove the 1999 expiration date from the county's tip jar gambling bill. But the debate over local gaming legislation will continue, and likely focus on the operations of the county Gaming Commission, which distributes tip jar proceeds to charities, nonprofit organizations and fire and rescue companies.

By ROD MARTIN, Planetarium Resource Teacher and ANDY SMETZER, Tristate Astronomers Visible Evening Planets MARS is low in the west after sunset. JUPITER rises before midnight. SATURN is low in the west after midnight. In June, Mars and Saturn do a little dance in the western sky after sunset. Early in the month they set about four hours after the sun, but their altitudes decrease as the month passes and they set only a couple hours after the Sun by month's end. Mars and Saturn approach each other this month in preparation for their close conjunction in early July.

There's no shortage of sunrises and sunsets, but as Hagerstown resident Ginny Talbert noted, they don't wait for anyone. These Tri-State-area amateur photographers had their cameras ready or just lucked out. The Herald-Mail runs readers' best recent photographs, taken in the Tri-State area, on this page. So if you're a local amateur photographer whose caught a spontaneous moment, a natural wonder, or a "Wow! Check that out!" image, send it to us. Quality is key. Sharp, large, color images look best.

Williamsport High, Springfield Middle, and Williamsport Elementary schools went on modified lockdown briefly Thursday afternoon, according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office and a school system spokesman. The 911 dispatch center received a call for shots fired in the area of the 200 block of East Sunset Avenue at 1:24 p.m. Thursday, according to Washington County Emergency Services. An official with the sheriff's office said police believe the call was related to a hunter and schools were taken off modified lockdown by around 1:50 p.m. When schools go on modified lockdown students are kept inside.

The owners of the Sunset Tavern west of Hagerstown went before Washington County liquor officials on Wednesday to discuss noise complaints that were made against the business over the last several months. Robert Shoemaker, a Washington County liquor board inspector, said music coming from the tavern was at an acceptable level during an inspection in June, but the noise got worse when he returned in August. David McSherry Jr., co-owner of the Sunset Tavern, said he planned to install noise panels and take other measures to mitigate the problem.

The second floor of the Sunset Tavern & Lounge at 16716 National Pike west of Hagerstown caught fire Wednesday. The area of the fire sustained heavy fire, smoke and heat damage according to William Garrett, chief of the Maugansville Goodwill Volunteer Fire Co. The state fire marshal's office estimated damage at $40,000 to the building and $15,000 to the contents. The fire marshal's office said the fire started in a second-floor living room, but the cause was uncertain.

Sack O' Marbles and Some Odd Reason bands will perform from 8:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Saturday at the Sunset Tavern, 16716 National Pike, west of Hagerstown. No cover charge. For more information, call Dave McSherry at 301-733-1685.

WASHINGTON COUNTY -- Washington County Public Schools students may continue to use school bus transportation to attend schools outside of their assigned attendance districts if they can board buses already en route to those schools. A vote Tuesday by the Washington County Board of Education continues a provision in the policy that, had it been allowed to expire, would have eliminated that privilege. The vote was 6-0 with board member William H. Staley absent. The school board approved a new transportation policy last year, and the section that allows students to be picked up or dropped off at locations other than their homes would have expired at the end of the school year without school board action.

There's no shortage of sunrises and sunsets, but as Hagerstown resident Ginny Talbert noted, they don't wait for anyone. These Tri-State-area amateur photographers had their cameras ready or just lucked out. The Herald-Mail runs readers' best recent photographs, taken in the Tri-State area, on this page. So if you're a local amateur photographer whose caught a spontaneous moment, a natural wonder, or a "Wow! Check that out!" image, send it to us. Quality is key. Sharp, large, color images look best.

By ROD MARTIN, Planetarium Resource Teacher and ANDY SMETZER, Tristate Astronomers Visible Evening Planets MARS is low in the west after sunset. JUPITER rises before midnight. SATURN is low in the west after midnight. In June, Mars and Saturn do a little dance in the western sky after sunset. Early in the month they set about four hours after the sun, but their altitudes decrease as the month passes and they set only a couple hours after the Sun by month's end. Mars and Saturn approach each other this month in preparation for their close conjunction in early July.

HAGERSTOWN -- With palm trees, steel drums, sand and seashells, all that was missing were the trade winds. This could have been Jamaica, Barbados or any tropical island. It wasn't. It was Robinwood Medical Center. The Antietam Healthcare Foundation hosted its 14th annual Crystal Ball Saturday night with the theme "Sunset in the Caribbean. " About 325 people attended the black-tie event, with proceeds benefiting the new Washington County Regional Medical Center.